Page 93 of More Than Just Friends

I trusted Ali. I knew her. And the way she looked at me was more than a look you gave a guy you were fucking just to feel better.

And like she’d said, she didn’t want to ruin our friendship, so she wouldn’t put everything on the line, just for one wild night.

No. I just had to trust her.

Colin said I shouldn’t get in too deep, but it was too late.

I was so far gone for Ali that there was no coming back from this.

Now I just had to hope that she felt the same.

32

ALICIA

‘Stella!’ I said, throwing my arms around the bride-to-be. ‘It’s so good to see you!’

‘You too!’ She squeezed me tight. ‘I’m so glad you could make it.’

We were at the hotel having a girls’ lunch on the grand terrace before Stella and Max’s big day tomorrow.

Stella’s golden-brown skin was glowing and her honey-coloured curls looked longer than the last time I’d seen her. They were now just past her shoulders.

‘I’m just so glad to be here. Hi, everyone!’ I waved at the women around the table.

‘Sammie’s running a bit behind,’ Stella said. ‘She’s busy doing wedding prep, bless her. Refused to let me help. Anyway, I should introduce you to everyone.’

As bad as it sounded, I was kind of relieved that Sammie was busy. She knew me so well that I was worried she’d take one look at me and immediately know Noah and I had slept together.

Of course I’d tell her, but like I’d said to Noah, I’d prefer to stay in our bubble for a little while longer before sharing the news with anyone.

‘This is Jasmine.’ Stella pointed to a black woman with sleek dark hair who reminded me of the actress Kerry Washington. ‘Jasmine is a Love Empress now, but before she was our Love Alchemist at the Spanish resort, and it was her scheming and meddling that helped bring me and Max together.’

‘You’re welcome!’ Jasmine smiled. ‘Lovely to meet you, Alicia. Your sister has told me lots about you.’

‘All good I hope!’ I laughed.

‘Naturally!’

‘Jasmine is with Cuisine King, Alejandro. They were colleagues who hooked up at the Love Hotel Jamaica and have been together ever since.’

‘Cool!’ I said.

‘Then we have two other Love Hotel success stories,’ Stella continued. ‘First up, celebrity nail technician extraordinaire, Halle, who met the love of her life, Jake, at the Love Hotel California and fabulous philanthropist Laila, who met her soulmate Gabriel at the Love Hotel Paris.’

‘Lovely to meet you!’ I said as they both said hello. ‘Wait. I’ve read about you two. Halle, your Jake is the Jake Myers, right?’

‘The one and only!’ She beamed, running a hand through her bob. If Halle Berry had a younger sister, I’d imagine she’d look exactly like her. ‘I’ll introduce you later if you like?’

‘No way!’ I gasped. ‘I mean, I didn’t mean no way as in there’s no way I’d want to meet him, because of course I would. I meant no way as in yes, please!’

‘Don’t worry! I knew what you meant!’ She chuckled. ‘I’m doing nails for these ladies later too if you fancy getting yours done.’

‘Hell, yeah!’ I said. ‘That’d be amazing!’

‘My pleasure,’ Halle replied.

‘And Laila,’ Stella continued. ‘You got set up with your bestie’s son, right?’